Why am I here?
Where should I fit in?
What do I do with my life?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions? If you have, then you’re no different from millions of other Christians who have sought to understand the meaning of their lives. Many people it seems, want to know the “will of God”, but it slips by them like a silent whisper. Have you looked at other people wondering how they could be so secure in doing kingdom work? If you have, wonder no longer because behind the “secret” of their security is a solid goal and a purpose they have come to understand, accept, and practice. Its called the will of God. Think of God’s will, not as a secret, but as hidden treasure. As hidden treasure, he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

What is God’s “Will”?

I heard someone say “God’s will is God’s word”. I agree with that. You can be sure that if you are doing something or supporting something the Word of God has deemed sin or unacceptable to God, then it is not his will.  Conversely,  just because something is difficult (even beyond your capabilities) doesn’t mean it is not the will of God.  I would add to that God is his will and his word (John 1:1-3). The primary source for discovering God’s will for your life, is in the pages of God’s word.  Its in the lines and between the lines. Its both what is said as well as what is not said. Again, he has placed it there for you to earnestly seek out.  The treasure you seek is not just information, but rather the One who holds the information. Please understand that because it is treasure, there exists a degree of difficulty (including the time factor) in finding it.  No one finds treasure laying about in the open.

We know from Romans 12:2 that whatever the will of God is, it is good and perfect and pleasing. So we don’t have to be afraid of it. We also know from Jeremiah 29:11 that God has predetermined a strategy to bring you to an “expected end” (his expectation, not ours).

The word will is translated from the Greek “thelema” which means “to will”. This doesn’t signify some demand, but an expression of pleasure towards the object of God’s pleasure (you). Thelema was used by biblical writers to designate what God Himself does of his own good pleasure and what he had ordained out of his sovereignty. In short, what God has planned for you is because he wants it.

So does God has a plan for your life? Absolutely. When I say plan I mean something he created you uniquely to do and because of that He will likewise equip you to complete that task. His plan for you will ultimately accomplish two major purposes:

(1) bring another person into reconciliation with God resulting in glory and praise for God;

(2) bring glory and praise to God resulting in another person being reconciled to God

This seems to be what Solomon surmises in Ecclesiastes 12:13. “…here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Within those two broad intents lie the plan that God has for you. It is not filled with specifics for a reason.

It is God’s desire that we all know His will for us. If a Christian misses God’s will its like missing a turn on a lonely highway and being lost on an unfamiliar detour. So knowing God’s will is very important. As a matter of fact if you don’t discover it, you will live your (Christian) life unfulfilled, unhappy and unfruitful. Knowing and living in his will for you will dramatically set you apart from those who meander aimlessly through church life.

I was teaching a discipleship class once and I asked for a show of hands from all those who knew what God had specifically called them to accomplish. Out of approximately 30 odd people, only 4-5 people raised their hands. When I asked those few to share their specific calling, the numbers got even smaller.  The answers were more or less general in nature.

It suggested to me that a vast majority of the rank and file church attendees are clueless as to the meaning of the lives. They come to church, participate in church activities (perhaps faithfully) but inside are deeply dissatisfied without understanding the reason for their dissatisfaction.  Consequently when you are not 100% convinced of God’s will for your life, you will always be in flux and susceptible to deception that appeals to answering that question with temporary solutions.

There are not two wills of God, but there are two aspects of his will.

One is a general will for all people.

For example, it is God’s will that all people be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)  It is God’s desire that we are blessed and in good health (1 John 3:3). God has called us unto holiness, not uncleaness (1 Thess 4:7).

Most become satisfied with these generalities. They are good, but beyond that is something specifically, that God has determined you should accomplish. Like Solomon, building the first temple or like Paul taking the gospel to the Gentiles. Or like Mary bearing and delivering the Christ. Remember Moses was chosen to tell Pharoah, “let my people go!”. What about Jesus who was born to die for the sins of the world?

Now, what about you? Do you know his will for you? If you know it, are you passionately working it out for God’s glory?